The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

242 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap.
than the Kayans ;
and a decoration commonly found
in their houses is a frieze running along the top
of the main partition wall of the house, bearing
in low relief an animal design, painted in red and
black, which is called Bali Sungei (i.e. water-spirit)
or Naga. The latter name is known to all the
tribes, and is probably of foreign origin ; and it
seems possible that the design and this name are
derived from the dragon forms so commonly used
in Chinese decorative art.
The various Klemantan tribes make use of
many decorative designs very similar to those of
the Kayans. Different animal forms predominant
among the different tribes, e.g. among the Long
Fig. 58. Fig. 59. Fig. 60.
Pokuns the form of the gibbon and of the sacred ape
{Seminopitkecus Hosei) are chiefly used in house
decoration. Among the Sebops and Barawans the
human figure predominates ; the Malanaus make
especially elaborate crocodile images in solid wood.
The tombs of some of the Klemantans are very
massive and elaborately decorated. The Tanjongs
and Kanowits and Kalabits, who excel in basketwork,
introduce a variety of patterns in black, red,
and white. The majority of these are simple
geometrical designs which arise naturally out of the
nature of the material ; of more elaborate designs
specially common are the hook-pattern (Fig. 58),
the pigeon's eye (Fig. 59), and the caterpillar
(Fig. 60).
In wealth of decorative designs the I bans